SGPDA chairman MLA Krishna Salkar flagged large-scale encroachments in the PDA mega retail market’s vegetable shed during an inspection on Friday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The South Goa Planning and Development Authority has set a three-day deadline for the vendors in the SGPDA mega retail market vegetable and fruit shed to clear the encroachments on the market passages or face confiscation of goods, besides a fine of Rs 5,000.
SGPDA Chairman MLA Krishna Daji Salkar was completely taken aback when he took a round of the PDA vegetable market along with the PDA Member Secretary, besides Margao Municipal Engineer Dipak Desai on Friday evening.
The delegation found almost all the market passages in the vegetable shed encroached upon by the vegetable and fruit vendors, hardly leaving any space for citizens to walk. In fact, Salkar observed that the vendors have encroached on the passages, using the passage space illegally to carry on their business.
The team also found there is no system in place in the vegetable and fruit shed for the disposal of waste in a segregated manner. They found that the vendors just dispose of the waste generated in the market in the open, creating problems for the PDA and the Margao Municipal Council to dispose of the waste.
After taking a round of the mega market, the PDA Chairman said he has given a deadline of three days to the vegetable and fruit vendors to clear the encroachments from the passages or face action. “We had recently issued notices to the vendors found encroaching on the market passages. Today, I have set a three-day deadline for the vendors to remove the goods from the passage or face action,” Salkar said.
He added: “Workers employed by the PDA will go to the market with vehicles to seize the goods displayed in the passage. We will not return the goods to the vendors. Besides, they will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 5,000.”